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Battery Warnings and information requirements
The Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard 2020 sets out the requirements for warnings that must be provided on
consumer goods that contain a button/coin battery. In addition to mandatory requirements for warnings, this information standard also includes best practice
recommendations for additional safety information to include when supplying consumer goods that contain a button/coin battery.
Warnings are necessary when supplying consumer goods containing button/coin batteries to:
.
alert consumers to the button/coin battery hazard
.
provide relevant information so that appropriate action can be taken when it is suspected that a child has swallowed or inserted a button/coin battery.
Size, durability and colour of warnings
Warnings provided on products, packaging and instructions should be designed to comply with the design principles for warnings, including size, legibility and
durability.
The standard ISO 3864-2:2004 – Graphical Symbols – Safety Colours and Safety Signs – Part 2: Design Principles for Product Safety Labels contains infor-
mation about product safety label design. This standard includes examples of alert words, examples of graphical alerts and warnings, and safety label develop-
ment considerations, including with respect to colour, size, legibility and durability.
Compliant warnings may take numerous forms, however, for reference, an example of an internationally recognised safety alert symbol, which is in a form which
meets the requirements of the Standards, is:
The safety alert symbol example aligns with the safety colour recommended for warning symbols in the voluntary industry standard ISO 3864-2:2016 Graphical
symbols – Safety colours and safety signs – Part 2: Design principles for product safety labels.
While not mandatory, the use of colour in safety signs is considered best practice as this helps to draw attention rapidly to objects and situations affecting safety
and health and to gain swift understanding of a specific message.
Unpackaged goods
Where consumer goods are unpackaged, all warnings and information listed in table 4 must be attached to the product, which may be by way of a sticker or a
swing tag.
Lower risk products
Some categories of consumer goods that contain button/coin batteries pose a lower risk in terms of battery accessibility and more flexible warning requirements
apply. Consumer goods that are deemed to pose a lower risk include:
•
.
hearing aids and associated hearing instruments/accessories
•
.
where the button/coin battery is not intended to be removed or replaced by a consumer
•
.
where a specialist is required to install or remove the button/coin battery
•
.
where the button/coin battery is fully enclosed in the product and is not accessible to the consumer.
Products where the button/coin battery is fully enclosed include personal computers. This category does not include products where the battery is intended to be
replaced and is housed in a secure compartment.
For lower risk products, the warning content in table 4 can be provided in the accompanying instructions.
If a consumer good falls within a category that is deemed to pose a lower risk and is not accompanied by instructions, the warning must be attached to, or includ-
ed with, the consumer good.
Exemptions from warning requirements
The Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard 2020 includes exemptions from warning requirements for the following
products:
•
.
Second-hand consumer goods – that is, consumer goods that were first supplied before the requirements of the instrument become mandatory.
•
.
Audio-visual and information and communications technology equipment containing button/coin batteries that are soldered in place such as personal
computers, electronic musical instruments, smartphones, cash registers, calculators and copying machines.
•
.
Professional equipment – that is, equipment to which all of the following applies:
– The equipment is intended to be used in trades, professions or industries.
– The equipment is not intended for sale to the general public.
– The equipment is not intended to be used where children are present.
Note: Suppliers should be aware that the criteria for professional equipment' listed above does not necessarily align with the definition of 'professional equipment' or 'professional apparatus'
in existing industry standards. Suppliers will only be eligible for the professional equipment exemption where each of the above criteria is satisfied.
Warnings and information recommendations
The Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard 2020 also contains the following best practice recommendations. While
not mandatory, the ACCC encourages suppliers to comply with these best practice recommendations in the interests of making consumers as aware as possible
of the button/coin battery hazard.
Warnings on products
It is recommended that consumer goods that contain a button/coin battery also include a warning on the product itself located on or close to where the battery is
accessible. A warning attached to the product is considered best practice as it provides ongoing awareness of the button/coin battery hazard over the lifetime of
the product. This is recommended in addition to warnings on packaging and instructions as these are often disposed of once the product has been purchased.
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